July 20, 2009

Plot: his costume drama features England’s splendid Renaissance dynasty under King Henry VIII. Beginning in Season 1 when Henry VIII was growing desperate for an heir and growing distant from his first wife, the series moves quickly to the period when Anne Boelyn became his obsession. During this time Cardinal Wolsey rose to become the power behind his throne, ruling ruthlessly and nearly absolutely while Henry (played by Johnathon Rhyes Meyers) for the most part followed the Cardinal’s advice, maneuvering through a series of betrayals and plots against him. When Anne Boelyn plays much harder to get than any woman ever has, Henry begins to search for a way out of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon, so that he can make Anne his wife. Needing a divorce, Henry turns to Wolsey, who promises to help him create waves of backlash from the church, as well as the Spanish Habsburg dynasty and its overseas empire. Against this background, gyrate the private lives and political intrigues of several members of the royal court and chancery. This includes Henry’s friend and his sister Margaret’s true love Charles Brandon, the Habsburg ambassadors, greedy and power-hungry schemers, their incidental victims and composer Thomas Tallis…

Sex and violence…that is a perfect way to describe the general overview of this show. I saw Season 1 when it first aired on Showtime, and I enjoyed it. I am a HUGE fan of the Tudors. Not only do I have all the Horrible History books about the Tudors, but I also was obsessed with the stories about Henry’s wives and went to Hampton Court more times than I can count. I actually believe that perhaps I was a Tudor in my past life :P

Anyway, the show is mixed…some episodes are awesome, full of sex, violence, and drama…but some I find incredibly boring.

I recommend this film if you like period piece films…get ready for some Henry whining…he whines a lot (“But I’m the king!). I give this show a 3/5 stars.

June 19, 2009

Plot: A nurse struggles to find a balance between the demands of her frenetic job at a New York City hospital and an array of personal dramas.

My mum was randomly watching, so I decided to stick around…well, I’m glad I did! I was really impressed with this new show starring Edie Falco (Sopranos). The show centers around Falcos character Jackie, a nurse at a hospital in the center of NYC. She is married, with kids, but sleeps with her coworker the pharmacist for her pain killers she snorts daily for her back.

The show is highly entertaining, provocative, well scripted, and high quality. Nurse Jackie airs on Showtime Mondays at 10:30pm after Weeds.

May 26, 2009

Plot: Meet Therapist Dr Elizabeth Goode. She’s Brash, unconventional, judgmental, but undeniably thriving as the “it” therapist to Hollywood’s maladjusted elite. On a daily basis Dr Goode dishes her own unique methodology to a waiting room filled with a who’s who from the world of entertainment, sports and music.

This show is ridiculous…the show follows the crazy psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Goode who is therapist to the stars, but has no idea what she is doing. The production quality is low, but the writing is hilarious and the amount of actors, singers, and famous sports people who appear as her patients are amazing. It also reminds me kind of Weeds in its humor…

Caitlin turned me onto this show and it appears on Starz and it’s in its 3rd season… I recommend this show to people who have studied any amount of psychology or TV. This show is perfect for someone such as myself seeming she does what I want to do…and it’s part of the media industry. Oh man I like this show! 4/5 stars!

April 28, 2009

Plot: A remake of the hit 2001 BBC TV series The Office (2001), this is a mockumentary that documents the exploits of a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Made up of head chief Michael Scott, a harmlessly deluded and ignorantly insensitive boss who cares about the welfare of his employees while trying to put his own spin on company policy. With an office including the likes of various peers who have their own hangups, The Office (2005) takes a look at the lives of its co-workers: bored but talented salesman Jim, his mildly sociopathic, butt kissing enemy Dwight, mildly righteous receptionist Pam, and indifferent temp Ryan.

I was officially obsessed with the originally British version of this show in England – I thought it was brilliant (until I saw Extras and it was even better). I love Ricky Gervais. I remember seeing the American one preview night with Mark when we first started dating, however, it was an exact copy. It didn’t work.

Needless to say, it has done very well, so I decided to watch it. I skipped the first season because I had seen some of it and it was crap. However, starting with the second season, it was awesome! It really found its feet, the actors grew into the characters, and it became its own! It’s not like the UK version, but its definitely worth watching.

I just love Jim and Pam…so adorable!

Dwight is amazing…

I recommend this show for anyone into this type of humor (mockumentary, awkward pauses etc)… I give the series thus far 4/5 stars.

April 2, 2009

Ok, first let me clarify: I DON’T WATCH DANCING WITH THE STARS…usually.

I randomly tuned in a few weeks ago and I happened to catch this gorgeous man. His name is Gillies Marini and he played the hot, naked, next-door neighbor in the Sex and the City movie. Anyway, he is on Dancing with the Stars, and he’s better than the professional he is paired up with!

Ok, so I was really bored today and decided to check out what was on Netflix instant play. Someone had told me about this show a while back because it was supposedly the black-gay male version of the L Word. Anyway, it’s actually really bad. The acting is terrible, its really low production value…but I couldn’t stop watching it. I ended up watching both Season 1 and 2 and then the movie they made. What a loser I really am.

I recommend this for people who are either TV addicts such as myself, or people who are interested in the gay tv movement (L Word, Queer as Folk etc). It’s definitely interesting and good for a laugh. 3/5 stars.